Tonga, by a modification of its treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom in July 1970, is responsible for its own external affairs. It maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific neighbours and the United Kingdom.
Diplomatic relations List of countries with which Tonga maintains diplomatic relations: #Country Date12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940–4142434445464748495051525354555657585960–616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384—8586878889Unknown90Unknown91Unknown92Unknown93Unknown94Unknown
Regional relations
Tonga maintains strong regional ties in the Pacific. It is a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Tonga endorsed the Treaty of Rarotonga (the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty) in 1996.
Tonga is, however, notably not one of the eight signatories of the Nauru Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Management of Fisheries of Common Interest which collectively controls 25–30% of the world's tuna supply and approximately 60% of the western and central Pacific tuna supply.
Since November 2011, Tonga has been one of the eight founding members of Polynesian Leaders Group, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
Bilateral relations
Country Formal Relations BeganNotesSee Australia–Tonga relations
Australia has a high commission in Nukuʻalofa. Tonga has a high commission in Canberra. Canada is accredited to Tonga from its High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand. Tonga is accredited to Canada from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.See China–Tonga relations
In 1998, Tonga recognized the People's Republic of China and severed relations with Taiwan.See Fiji–Tonga relations
These neighbouring countries in the South Pacific have a history of bilateral relations going back several centuries.
Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama received "cheers and thunderous applause" from the Tongan public when he attended a Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tonga in October 2007; the crowd's "enthusiastic reception" of Fiji's leader was likened to "that accorded to a rock star"."Voreqe no 'leper'" , Maria Burese, Fiji Times, 17 October 2007. Radio Australia noted that he had been "the star of this year's meeting, for the people of Tonga","TONGA: Questions over Fiji election commitment", ABC Radio Australia, 18 October 2007. while TVNZ reported that he had been "given a hero's welcome".
In terms of inter-governmental relations, Tonga has generally avoided pressuring Fiji's "interim government" into holding democratic elections. However, Tongan Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele has urged Bainimarama "to produce a credible roadmap to the election according to the Constitution and law of Fiji"."Bainimarama vows army will abide by results of 2009 election" , Fiji Times, 17 October 2007. Germany is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. Greece is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.See India–Tonga relations Tonga has an embassy in Tokyo. Tonga and Latvia established diplomatic relations in 2020. On 28 October 2020, Tongan and Latvian Ambassadors to the United Nations signed a joint communiqué formalising the bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over strengthening of ties between the two countries. Both countries see opportunities for cooperation in tackling climate change, development cooperation, economics, and cooperation in various multilateral formats, especially in the light of the prospective Latvian non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in 2026–2027. In October 2024, the Speaker of the Tongan Parliament Fatafehi Fakafanua expressed support for Latvia's nomination to join the United Nations Security Council in June 2025. Mexico is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. Tonga is accredited to Mexico from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.See New Zealand–Tonga relations
New Zealand has a high commission in Nukuʻalofa.High Commission of New Zealand in Nukuʻalofa Tonga has a consulate-general in Auckland.Consulate-General of Tonga in AucklandSee Russia–Tonga relations
The Kingdom of Tonga and the Soviet Union established formal diplomatic relations in 1976. Tonga was the first Pacific Island country to establish relations with the USSR. The USSR was dissolved in 1991 and was succeeded by Russia as the successor state.
On 2 October 2005, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Tonga ST T. Tupou exchanged telegrams offering congratulations on the occasion of 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations. In his heads of foreign ministries of Russia and Tonga expressed confidence in further development of Russian-Tongan relations in the interests of the peoples of both countries and strengthen peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. See Samoa–Tonga relations The ROK's Investment in Tonga in 2019 was about 2.5 million $.See Tonga–Turkey relations Turkish ambassador in Wellington to New Zealand is also accredited to Tonga. Trade volume between the two countries was negligible in 2019. See Tonga–United Kingdom relations Tonga established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 4 June 1970. Tonga maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Tonga through its high commission in Nuku'Alofa.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.See Tonga–United States relations
The United States and Tonga enjoy close cooperation on a range of international issues. Officers of the American Embassy in Suva, Fiji, are concurrently accredited to Tonga and make periodic visits since the United States has no permanent consular or diplomatic offices in Tonga. Although plans for a US consulate in Tonga were announced in 2008,"US to open consulate in Tonga", ABC Radio Australia, 16 May 2008."US consular office for Tonga" , Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, 9 February 2009. it has yet to be established."U.S. Relations With Tonga", U.S. Department of State, 29 August 2014. In May 2023, the United States announced plans to establish an embassy in Tonga, as part of a larger regional push to strengthen ties with the Pacific.
Peace Corps Volunteers teach and provide technical assistance to Tongans. A large number of Tongans reside in the United States, particularly in Utah, California and Hawaii.
Tonga is accredited to the United States from its permanent mission to the United Nations in New York City and has a consulate-general in Burlingame, California.
International disputes
In 1972, Tonga laid claim to, and invaded, the tide-washed, isolated Minerva Reefs, some 480 kilometres southwest of Nuku'olofa, to thwart efforts by a private group, Ocean Life Research Foundation, to establish an independent Republic of Minerva (now the Principality of Minerva) on the reefs and surrounding quays. In November 2005, Fiji laid a complaint with the International Seabed Authority claiming ownership of the reefs.
See also
List of diplomatic missions in Tonga List of diplomatic missions of Tonga
References